The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week
By Larry Janezich
Posted April 4, 2024
Auto Zone on H Street NE is closed and up for lease. WestMill Capital, the H Street development firm had plans to develop the site as multifamily units. Co-owner Ben Miller said the firm was considering a number of options, including the potential use of the city’s Inclusionary Zoning Plus program which provides for no-hassle rezoning of a development site if the developer commits to making 20% of the units affordable at 60% AMI. Miller didn’t sound 100% committed to this option – WestMill would be the first to use the program. Miller said in 2021 that he was also pursuing selling the property outright, as well as extending Auto Zone’s lease. Washington Business Journal first reported the up-for-lease story. In a follow-up piece, ConnectCRE suggested that “The current leasing opportunity indicates a potential delay or change in the redevelopment plans.” https://bit.ly/3Ui364Y
CM Charles Allen visited ANCB’s hybrid meeting last Monday night to talk about the budget. He called it one of the most challenging he had seen. The good news is that all of the Ward 6 school, library, rec center, pool, and park modernizations are included and preserved. Among his priorities are restoring funding for the equity fund for day care workers, maintaining the SW – L’Enfant Plaza – Eastern Market Circulator Route which the Mayor wants to phase out in six months, increase funding for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, restore funding to avoid laying off 200 school employees, and to preserve funding for Vision Zero, school safety, as well as recreation and senior centers. Allen will hold a hybrid Ward 6 Budget Town Hall on Monday, April 29, at Northeast Branch Library from 6:00 to 7:30pm. From L-R, ANC6B Commissioner David Sobelsohn, Allen, ANC6B Chair Edward Ryder.
Lead Pipe Replacement in ANC7D. ANC7D met Tuesday night and heard from DC Water’s Communication Manager Sean Moore about DC Water’s free lead pipe replacements starting this year in ANC 7D. The agency is focusing on replacing lead in vulnerable and historically underserved communities. The replacement is free with restoration in kind for any disruptions to property. The city is responsible for maintaining the portion of service in public space – to the property line. In some cases, funding is available to replace lead on private property with the consent of the owner. Replacement for 1158 premises on 74 Blocks in ANC7D will begin this year. For more, go here: https://bit.ly/3PXY8YA and to see if your pipes are lead, check the interactive map here: https://geo.dcwater.com/Lead/ Clockwise above, 7D Commissioners Ebony Payne and Brett Astmann, ANC7D Vice Chair Brian Alcorn, and Sean Moore, DC Water.
H and 8th Street Corner NE De-Throned. Thursday night, ANC6A01 Commissioner Keya Chatterjee announced at the ANC6A April meeting that Throne Labs has withdrawn a request to place one of its public bathrooms at the corner of 8th and H Streets, NE, as part of a city-sponsored pilot program. Community concerns regarding the placement of the “Throne” at the troubled corner apparently raised company concerns that there would not be unanimous agreement on the ANC about the placement and decided to pursue location of the bathroom elsewhere on in the Capitol Hill community. One location being considered is Eastern Market Metro Plaza where the public restrooms in SE Library are not and will not be available during a two year library renovation project. Above is a rendering of what the Throne at H and 8th Streets, NE would have looked like.
Ebenezer Row Condo Update. Construction on condo project is nearing completion – a significant improvement on the 400 block of D Street, SE. Still, it seems more thought might have been given to placement of the electric meter panels on some of the units.
Viewing the Eclipse from the West Front of the US Capitol. Here’s an image of eclipse watchers gathered on the House side of the West Front of the U.S. Capitol during the eclipse.
And here’s a shot from the center of the lower terrace of the West Front showing the crowd of eclipse watchers gathered on the National Mall.
The Week Ahead…
Monday, April 15
ANC6A Transportation & Public Space Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm
For link to join the meeting, go here: https://anc6a.org/community-calendar/
Among items on the draft agenda:
- Florida Ave NE Streetscape Project Update. The Florida Ave NE Streetscape Project outreach team will provide project updates and address community safety concerns with related contractor work.
- Vision Zero Hardening at the intersection of 13th Street NE/Constitution Ave NE/Tennessee Ave NE.
- Lane Re-configuration of westbound C Street, NE between 17th Street NE and 16th Street NE.
ANC6B Parks and Public Spaces Taskforce will hold an in-person meeting at 7:00pm in Conference Room 201, 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE (entrance next to Trader Joe’s)
Among items on the draft agenda:
Among items on the draft agenda:
- Status of Eastern Market Metro Plaza
- VA Avenue Review and Update
- New Director of DC Parks and Recreation/Park Manager
- Enforcement of leash laws
- Public restrooms
- Park accommocation for seniors
- Souteast Library/Eastern Market collaboration opportunities
ANC6D Transportation and Public Space Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
For link to join the meeting, go here: https://www.anc6d.org/anc6d-transportation-committee/
Agenda: TBA
Wednesday, April 17
ANC6A Economic Development & Zoning Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
For link to join the meeting, go here: https://anc6a.org/community-calendar/
Among items on the draft agenda:
- 808 I Street, NE: Zoning Adjustment Application to construct a third story and rear addition to an existing, attached, two-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit in the RF-1 zone.
- 257 Warren Street, NE: Zoning Adjustment Application to construct two new, attached, three-story with basements, principal dwelling units in the RF-1 zone.
- 1432 F Street, NE: Zoning Adjustment Application to construct a two-story rear addition to an existing, attached, two-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit in the RF-1 zone.
- 430 10th Street, NE: Zoning Adjustment Application to construct a rear addition to an existing, attached, two-story with basement, principal dwelling unit in the RF-1 zone.
Thursday, April 18
ANC6D Alcohol Beverage Control Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
For link to join the meeting, go here: https://www.anc6d.org/abc-committee/
Agenda: TBA
Capitol Hill Corner would also like you to know about:
Capitol Hill Village (CHV) is running a Membership Drive throughout the month of April, with a table at Eastern Market on Saturdays and Sundays. CHV engages residents, especially adults 55 and older, to build a stronger community. Village members, volunteers of any age, staff, and experts host programs, activities, and events, and provide short-term case management for those in need.
CHV members design and host over two dozen “Affinity Groups,” monthly or more frequent get-togethers to enjoy outings, activities, and discussions on books, opera, theater, museum visits and the cinema; to play mahjong, practice improvisation, or write a memoir; and to walk, kayak, bike and dance together. CHV offers education, resources, and referrals through our dedicated staff and volunteers.
How to Join: Visit their website at www.capitohlhillvillage.org or contact CHV at 202-543-1778.
Cannabis Festival at RFK Campus, April 19 – 20. More here: https://nationalcannabisfestival.com/
CameraConnect DC, the Metropolitan Police Department’s new community camera sharing program, gives residents, business owners, institutions, and others an additional way to help police solve crime in their neighborhood. By registering your camera system – such as a doorbell camera or private CCTV system – and giving officers advance knowledge of available sources of evidence should a crime occur near your location. Registration is free. Residents would have to agree to a request to share video with MPD on a case by case basis. For more, go here: https://mpdc.dc.gov/cameraconnectdc
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 